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Jeremy Corbyn Becomes New Labour Leader

Britain’s opposition Labour party has elected veteran left-winger Jeremy Corbyn as its new leader. The one-time outsider succeeds Ed Miliband, who stepped down after the party’s electoral defeat in May.

Avowed socialist and anti-austerity advocate Jeremy Corbyn won 59.5% of the ballots cast, or 251, 417 votes, to take over the leadership position, the party announced at a special conference in London on Saturday, DW reported.

Addressing the party after the result, Corbyn said he wanted Labour to strive for a diverse, “decent and better society” open to all.

Corbyn, who has often voted against past party decisions, scored during the leadership campaign on a message of promising to increase state-funded investments and re-nationalizing parts of Britain’s economy, including railroads.